Linda stepped outside as a chilly breeze swept past her face. Under the sun, the snow shone brightly. She took a few quick breaths of the cool winter air and dashed down the short driveway to the mailbox. Even though she didn’t like the cold, she enjoyed being outside for a short period.

    Everything went black, red and blue lights were flashing, and she heard a buzzing sound. “Transaction expired,” a digital voice said.
 

    Linda was standing in her vision pod. Her small room held few possessions salvaged from the massive explosion that reshaped the planet. She peered out a porthole window she was in Zone 2 that provided windows. Zone 1 and 2 were above ground, and all the rest were below ground level. Seeing the ground burnt and all living plant life dead. The sky was hazy with little sunlight. Even if they could smell the air, it would be foul. It was unbreathable.

    An event destroyed the Earth. So, they constructed multiple underground bunkers. Chromech builds a large supply of their robots. Three space shuttles remained; astronauts continued searching for a new planet.

   She missed work at the Vision Center. Beep went Cosmo. Linda’s personal door security she had installed. “Identify,” Cosmo requested “Sara,” a voice responded. Linda grabbed the remote and presses the button to allow her sister in. Sara skipped to the bed and sat down. “Wow, can’t believe you won that vision pod last year. Can I use it?” “What’s the password?” Linda said. Sara giggled and ran over to punch numbers in the keypad. She knew Linda like a book.

   Sara gave her a playful shove and entered the pod. Just then, Cosmo beeped again. “Identify” “35A and 35B from Chromech Industries.” Linda let the two robots in as it was time for her daily shot. Chromech sought to enhance intelligence and improve adaptation to surroundings. After the shot, they left. Sara had never received a shot. She had been in hiding.

  Sara came out of the pod. "You have been in the lab. I can tell by that smile on your face. You missed your rounds. Corbin will catch you. Meet me for lunch she said as rushing out."

   She had missed work. Doing her rounds consists of checking the plants in the greenhouse. Linda tested wind patterns at the dome pod using external gauges before proceeding to the lab. Her employer would deduct points from her paycheck. Entering the lab, she smelt coffee and sweat. There was Corbin and a lab tech. Corbin wore a strong cologne. Assuming it was the tech. The foul order crossed her nose again, ashamed when realizing it was her. Corbin was rambling on about the robots. Linda finished a few detailed notes and realized it was time to go.

    In the cafeteria Linda was telling Sara that she was following where their mother had left off. A rare, restorative flower bloomed within an eastern cave. A buzzer goes off, and the intercom announces, “Everyone report to Zone 1  to evacuate.”